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Regina lost 99 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Regina lost 99 pounds.  Inspired by her sister’s progress, she found a great workout group  for support and learned to change her eating habits for life instead of just dieting.  Here is what she shared with us.

Regina before and after

My motivation was that I had outgrown all my clothes once again. My sister started working out and I realized she was losing weight. I called her up and asked what all she was doing ? She explained she joined a Bodycamp class. She told me to bring a mat, a water, wear tights and a shirt. Now, I have been going ever since.

I didn’t know my eating habits would have to change. I thought I could eat whatever and still lose weight. I was sadly mistaken. The instructors of the class asked me instantly, how is your diet? I changed gradually and have done really great. I realized it’s a lifestyle change, not just a diet per say. I started eating baked, boiled, or grilled chicken, turkey, tilapia and very little red meats. I also eat whole wheat or wholegrain items, like brown rice, oatmeal, or wheat breads and have lots of vegetables and fruits. Almonds, yogurt, trail mix and protein shakes are also part of the mix. I drink way more water now. Before, I was eating a lot of fast foods, fried foods, sweets, sodas, chips and anything that was quick to get to.

In the workout class, we never do the same thing twice. Each day has different activities. Monday is leg day with cardio. Tuesday is shoulder day with cardio. Wednesday is back day with cardio. Thursday is everything day, total body. I attend class 4 days a week. Monday thru Thursday.

I started at 287 pounds  and I am currently 188 pounds. It has taken me 1 1/2 years to get to this point.
My advice to others is to surround yourself with same minded and positive people. Start slow and you’ll gradually see change. Cook at home and meal prep your food, if possible. That helps keep you from making bad last minute food choices.

Instagram: @rhall0407

Christie lost 75 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation Story of the Day: Christie lost 75 pounds.  Learning about proper nutrition, Zumba class and a group Bootcamp helped her to shed the pounds. She was encouraged to share her weight loss story by her trainer Tiffany Brown-Bush at Fit 4 Life in NC.

Christie before and after

To start, I moved to Charlotte, NC about 3 years ago. When I came here I was weighing 262 lbs. At first I did not have any motivation to start my weight loss journey. I was just riding down Mallard Creek Rd and noticed a sign that read Zumba and had a phone number listed. I drove by the sign a weeks t before taking the time to inquire.  This is how I became an active part of Fit 4 Life. I started attending the Zumba classes there on a regular basis. Starting to see some changes, I was inspired by another great person in the F4L family to try out the bootcamp classes there as well. Bootcamp is where continued to see my body change and a little more weight loss.

After bootcamp, I again was advised on how much learning about nutrition would help me on my journey. I was a person that loved to eat cereal (any kind) and M&Ms. I ate very little vegetables and all of the wrong combinations of food. As you can tell, no real substance there. I became a nutrition client and learned more healthy options and a completely new way to eat to not only loose weight but also allow the body to heal with proper nutrients.

I have now been with Fit 4 Life more than a year and have lost a total of 75lbs.  At 5’4″ tall and much lighter on my feet, I feel better than I ever have before. I am still pushing to continue to lose as there is a goal number I have in mind to reach. To anyone else looking to change their life or lose weight, my advice has been and remains “it will not be easy, but it will be worth it.” There will be times when you don’t see the progress, but don’t give up. Just because you can’t see it immediately doesn’t mean what you are doing is not working. Use that energy to push harder, dig deeper, and go further.

I am very grateful to Fit4Life because being apart changed my life and gave me a family dynamic in a city that I was new in, and allowed me to see life from more healthy prospective. I hope this blesses and helps someone else along the way.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/fit4lifetbrown

Consha lost 150 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Consha lost 150 pounds.  After battling with being overweight most of her life, this young lady made the changes necessary to see lose the pounds and get fit. Here is what she shared with us…

Consha before and after

Hi! I’m Consha and I’m 25 years old. I’ve pretty much been obese all my life but it got out of hand during my 9th grade year in High School. That’s when I found out I was 300 pounds. From there I decided to lose weight but emotional eating took control during that time.

My Mom was my inspiration.  Also, studying to become a Nurse and interacting with people at work explaining the risks of their overall health is was my motivation and STILL is.

Changing my eating habits took some time. I put myself on a 4/3 ratio where I’d eat what I wanted for 4 days and healthy the other 3 days.  Now, I’m down to one cheat day.  I gave up rice, bread, beef  and  pork.  I have 5 small meals per day and protein shakes after workouts. I trained with a personal trainer 3 days a week and ran on the 4th day.

I started my weight loss journey at 350 pounds. I am now 200 pounds at 5″6″ tall.  It has taken me about a year and 4 months to get this far.

To others I say, you’re the FIRST example of how the world is supposed to love you, so be the BEST example ever. Pray, Be Consistent, Eyes Forward, and Believe in yourself is my advice to others. I don’t have a fancy story, JESUS simply keeps me.

Instagram: @IamConshay inactive

Consha lost 150 pounds

Shayla lost 57 pounds

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Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Shayla lost 57 pounds since July 2014.  Not wanting to face a family history of illness, she decided to change her lifestyle.  She shared with us about how much she gained as a person and how much her life has changed during her weight loss journey.

shayla before and after

A few things contributed and are contributing to keep me motivated to lose weight. My father had a kidney transplant, has diabetes and high blood pressure. With me being 312 pounds at the time with no health issues, other than my weight, I did not want to acquire any illnesses. I knew I was overweight, but I didn’t know or didn’t want to admit that I was over 300 pounds. My fathers health concerns turned a light on for me.

My inspiration comes from with in. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s an honest truth. My progress continually pushes me. Not just seeing the number go down in the scale, but not being winded going up a flight of stairs, or walking small small distances. Being able to get into clothes I haven’t been able to fit into on over five years and them being too big. That feeling is Amazing.

shaylaI changed my eating habits by making sure I ate breakfast. That truly sets the tone for my appetite and how I eat for the day. I eat healthier snacks. However, I’m not so far gone that I don’t get a hankering for chips, or chocolate or something deep fried. I’ve just taught myself how to eat those things and not to eat the entire bag of chips or bucket of chicken. If I want that crunchy, salty fix, I would try for a better alternative, like kale chips or fresh veggies in a light Italian or balsamic dressing. If I Have to have a chip I would make sure I’d get a serving or half a serving of them. Put the chips on a sandwich bag, and when they are gone, their gone. For my chocolate fixes, I would have a chocolate protein shake made with dark chocolate almond milk. DELISH!!! For my day to day meals. I make sure I eat plenty of green veggies and proteins. I minimize my carb intake, but I’m not eliminating them completely. WATER, WATER, WATER!!! Drink it!!

When I started working out on July 1st I started with Curves. I ended up there by unknowingly signing up for a case study. I was obligated to work out 4 days a week for 30 minutes a day. I coupled that with my regular gym membership that I had been on hiatus from for who knows how long . I would go to the gym in the morning and do 35 minutes on the elliptical and weights. I would alternate the days between upper body and lowers body. Then I would do the 30 minute circuit training with Curves. If I didn’t make the gym, I made sure I walked for at least 30 minutes. After my 30 day case study with Curves ended, I had lost 16 pounds. I was still very active at the gym, but spending more time on the elliptical. Each week to two weeks, I did five more minutes than before and added a little more weight.

My starting weight was 312 pounds. As of today I weight 255 pounds. I am 5’10” tall. I lost 45 pounds between July 1, 2014 – November 1,2014. I did take a small break for about four weeks (that long of a break is not recommended ). I will never take that long of a break again.

My advise is to never stop!!! Don’t get overly discouraged, don’t lose hope, inspiration or motivation. KEEP PUSHING. We all get tired and frustrated because it may seem your work and effort don’t reflect on the scale. I assure you, you will be amazed at what you gain. You gain stamina, flexibility, courage, discipline and a better sense of self. It’s a true confidence builder. I did it alone. No quick pills, shakes or gimmicks. Nothing can give you the feeling or honor of knowing you worked your ass off, and accomplished something so difficult, by yourself.

Natasha lost 85 pounds

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Update Nov 2018: Natasha lost 16 more pounds for a total of 101 pounds gone. She credits therapy, healthy eating habits and exercise as the tools that have allowed her to maintain her success.

Natasha before and after

How have you maintained your weight loss/continued to lose weight?
I eat mostly steak and salad. I don’t eat out at all. The key is that I don’t deprive myself of anything. I love ice cream. I cook everything I eat, and I drink a lot of water. However, I like to have ginger ale from time to time, lol.

For me, maintaining also means going to therapy, walking, and hiking. I’ve learned why I got to heaviest, and I use pictures to show myself how far I have come.  My current weight ranges between 167 – 170 pounds now.

What lesson you’ve learned on this journey stands out the most?
The lessons I’ve learned on this journey are never-ending. Finally, I learned to like what I saw in the mirror. I don’t run past the mirror like I use to. I keep all my clothes the same size and will not go over that size. Many ignore or brush off signs like changes in clothing while trying to maintain.

At this point, would you offer any new or different advice to other people who want to lose weight?
The advice I have to share (the same advice I was told): You didn’t gain the weight or get this way overnight. It will take some time to obtain any goal, big or small. Don’t give up. It is hard, trust me, I know.

Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. This is your story, and you get to write the ending however you want it. Know the reason why you got to your heaviest point. Therapy can help. Also, go to doctors who care and are cheering you on.

Surround yourself with a good support system, and do it for you, not for anyone else. Do what works for you and be patient.

Instagram: @ignatashafryethevet

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Natasha lost 85 pounds.  This military veteran had to lose the weight in order to qualify for surgery. She changed her eating habits, started exercising and got results in 9 months.  Here is what she shared with us…

natasha before and after

I am 36 years old and a military veteran. I gained almost 70lbs. The weight gain was recent. I  packed those pounds on in the last 3 years due to depression. When I moved to the DC area, I noticed I didn’t fit the mold. I was either too big to hang out with or date or I felt used. The wakeup call is when I had a doctors appointment for plastic surgery to get my breast reduction in April 2014. My doctor told me my BMI was over the limit and told me to come back when I’s lost the weight. I was determined. Needless to say I dropped 85 lbs and got my reduction on January 12, 2015.

I stopped eating out as much and cut all sodas from my diet and drank more water. I added more protein to my diet, such as lean beef and fish. I chewed my food more as well instead of just a bite and swallow. I didn’t deprive myself of having chips here and there, so I wouldn’t crave junk food. I started to walk everywhere (due to car issues). I walked to the grocery store and started taking public transportation as well.

My starting weight was 271 lbs at 5’8″ tall and I currently weigh 186 lbs. I started my transformation in April 2014. My advice to others trying to lose weight is to never give up. I’ve tried every diet under the sun since 2006. However, I was determined in April 2014 when my doctor told me I had to get to a certain weight to get breast reduction surgery. Believe in yourself. People will pressure you, but when you’re ready you can do anything.

Update May 2015: “Just an update: I am excited to say that I have lost 20 more pounds since my Feb 4th article.”

natasha before and after

Update: Tamiko lost 142 pounds

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We got an update from Tamiko about her amazing weight loss transformation…

“Hello I wanted to give you an update to my story that you posted on 6/16/14. Today, I am finally at my goal weight of 135 pounds. I’ve lost an additional 10 lbs for a total weight loss of 142 lbs. I’ve lost more than half my body weight and I’m so proud of myself. My hard work has paid off!! I’d like to say to anyone that is struggling or just starting their journey that hard work pays off. Keep going! Don’t give up! It won’t be easy but it’s surely worth it. Now, I’m on to maintenance which I know is going to be hard also. Thank you so much for sharing my story and so many other inspiring stories!! You can follow my journey on Facebook: TamikoWeightLossJourney” – Read more about how she lost the weight.

Tamiko before and after

 

6 New Habits That Will Help You Keep Your Healthy Resolutions

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habits resolutions

According to a University of Scraton survey, nearly 45% of Americans set a New Year’s resolution but only a measly 8% achieved their goal last year. The most popular New Year’s resolution involved weight loss.  You made your resolutions a month ago and you may already feel very challenged or discouraged.

The main reason people don’t achieve their resolutions is because they create a huge goal without taking the necessary steps in breaking it down into mini-goals. They also fail to develop the right habits to guide them to dropping that extra 10/20/30/etc lbs or eating less junk food.

Essentially, if you want to achieve your New Year’s weight loss resolutions you need to examine your life and start developing healthy new habits. Here are 6 habits you can adopt to help you become one of those faithful few who achieve their weight loss related New Year’s goals.

  • Portion Control

Rather than making a goal to just stop eating junk food or highly processed foods cold turkey, change your eating habits by cracking down with portion control. Portion control is in a way more important than what types of foods you are eating. If you overeat, even on healthy but calorie rich foods, you aren’t going to lose weight. Period.  It can be much easier to move from eating junk in moderation to cutting them out than suddenly going cold turkey (although there is nothing wrong with going cold turkey and eating completely clean from the start if you can).

The flaw with just trying to avoid junk altogether is that the deprivation is very likely going to cause you to suddenly binge on whatever you’re craving which leads to guilt. Cut back you portions overall and if you do have a craving for some ice cream, have only one serving.  Smaller portions or limited portions are a great start.

  • Not Making Excuses for Eating Bad Foods

Being completely honest with yourself is a hard skill to learn. One habit of some weight loss resolutioners is that they make some type of excuse for themselves when they slip up with their diet/new lifestyle. Not only are you fooling yourself but you’re actually convincing yourself that it is ok to give into pressure and bad habits.

A common excuse is to cave in and eat a quart of Ben and Jerry’s and then tell yourself “Oh, I’ll just run an extra mile tomorrow” or “I just won’t eat anything tomorrow”. Maybe you even blame your friends when they want fast food and you cave in. Instead, be honest. Take responsibility when you slip up but don’t beat yourself up about it. If it continues to be a problem then take a look at the lifestyle you’re trying to live and see what the problem is.  You have to dig deep and face the issue that is contribute to your bad eating habits.  Deal with things like binging, emotional eating, eating to deal with stress, etc by dealing with the non-food issues in your life.  Food addiction is also a very real thing and you may need to reach out to Weight Watchers or Overeaters Anonymous for help.

  • Being Accountable to Another Person/Group

This habit might be difficult for people who tend to treat their goals and health very privately. However, sharing yours goals and asking people to keep you accountable is a really strong tool in completing your weight loss goals. Having people in your daily life keep you accountable is the most effective way but there is an alternative.

You can also ask a fitness group, like your local zumba class or bootcamp group, to keep you accountable at your gym. If you don’t go to a gym you can also join online health forums, Facebook pages like ours and health/weight loss tracking websites (My Fitness Pal, SparkPeople and FitBit are great examples).  We even host DietBet contests online where you can join in and commit to weight loss goals in a weight loss pool for money. These online communities often have entire section dedicated to finding people accountability partners or groups.

  • Weekly Photo Diary of Progress

Often people only measure their weight loss by seeing how much they are losing on the scale. This can be misleading if you’ve taken on a fitness regimen and putting on muscle. It will seem like you aren’t losing weight very quickly when in fact you’re losing weight and replacing it with muscle.

Instead of focusing solely on the scale’s numbers, take pictures every week of your progress. Aside from health reasons, many people want to lose weight because they feel like they will look better. Being able to compare pictures will show you just how much change you are making and can be super motivating compared to looking at numbers.  Once you reach your goal weight, you can share your before and after photos to inspire others.

  • Reward Yourself

Adults really aren’t much different than children in the sense that rewards are a great incentive and motivator. Adopt the habit of rewarding yourself when you’ve achieve your goal milestones. These rewards could be anything that you enjoy and look forward to but they shouldn’t be something common in your everyday life.

Some examples could be a weekend vacation to the beach, a spa day, a shopping spree for new clothes, a makeover or whatever else you might be craving.

  • Write Down Your Goals

Last but not least, always make a habit of writing down your goal and each mini-goal/milestone. Keeping a journal, either online or offline, which tracks your progress towards your goal is a super powerful tool. Simply keeping your goal in your head not only prevents you from tracking it properly but also greatly increases your chances of not completing it.  In this day and age, you can also use online tracking tools like the FitBit.

The saying “out of sight, out of mind” applies very much to weight loss resolutions. Keep your goal lists and tracking charts in plain view so it’s always something you’re aware of.  Review your goals on a regular basis, but don’t go overboard to the land of obsession.

Reaching your New Year’s resolution isn’t impossible. With the right mindset, tools and a smart goal you’ll be able to greet the next year as a whole new person.

Darlene lost 39 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Darlene lost 39 pounds.  After learning that she had a serious medical issue, this proud mom of 3 changed her lifestyle, embracing clean eating and lots of exercise.  She also had the help for a great coach/nutritionist on her journey. Here is what she shared with us…

Darlene before and after

Getting my health back on track was my motivation. My cholesterol was high enough to put me at risk for a heart attack and/or stroke. Being here to see all of my children grow up was my inspiration & any future grandchildren. I wanted to be an active grandmother when the time came. I was at 163 lbs, the same weight I was when I was pregnant with triplets. I am 5’3, so this was not ideal for my health. This was in February 2013. I am a 43yr old, divorced mother of 3 children, ages 24, 12 & 10 years old. My son just graduated Summa Cum Laude from NC A&T State University. My 12 yr old is my surviving triplet and suffers from Cerebral Palsy. My 10 yr old is my baby with an old soul.

Since my triglycerides was the highest part of the cholesterol, I cut out all refined sugars. I also started attending a high impact Zumba class with some weight training twice a week at Fit4life with Tiffany Brown-Bush here in North Carolina. My doctor was threatening to put me on medication but advised that I could avoid that if I increased my exercise and went to a low fat eating plan. My numbers were coming down but not enough, so I gave myself a birthday present and joined at 4 week Boot Camp at Fit4life in July 2013. I also cut all fried food. In the 4 weeks, I lost 10 lbs and my cholesterol went down 20 points.

Tiffany Brown-Bush would also offer seminars on nutrition, which I attended, as I had hit a plateau. I cut out dairy products, which I found out was causing bloating among other things. I increased my green leafy vegetables and tried not to eat my last meal of the day after 7. I continued to lose weight and my energy increased tenfold. In November 2013, I decided to do a fitness competition but wasn’t sure if I could do all that was needed as I was not able to go to a gym and did not want to take any supplements. Tiffany was my trainer and nutritionist giving me the workout and food list that I needed to sculpt my body for this show. This is when I learned how to really eat clean and what I think was the turning point. I did 98% of my workout at home with weights and my Tabata app, in the mornings before my girls were up and in the evening while they completed their homework. I worked out 3-4 times a week doing push ups, lunges, squats, lifted weights (no more than 25lbs), jumped rope, yoga, pull ups and I ran on the weekend (when I could).  Most of my working out was completed in a Tabata style training. I would also have 1 cheat meal per week.

My training was a total of 5 months, I lost an additional 29 lbs, taking me to 124 pounds, which did include me drying out for competition.  Once it was over and I had a little more variety in my eating, I have maintained my weight at 134 pounds by continuing to eat clean, having a cheat meal a week and exercising with weights 3-4 days a week. It has truly been a lifestyle change for me.

My advise to others is keep everything in perspective, everyone is different, thus you will progress at a different pace. The important thing is you are doing it & it is something that not only you benefit from, but those you love & who love you. At the end of the day, you will be healthier, happier & more energetic than you were before.

Instagram: @fit4lifenc

Darlene before and after

February 2015: DietBet and Drink That Water Challenge

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This month’s Challenge is a 2 Part Challenge.

  • We are doing another DietBet – The bet is $25 and we are pledging to lose 4% of our weight this month.

  • We will focus on drinking at least 64 oz of water each day.  We will also post our bottles on social media with the hashtag #BWLWFeb

february giveawaysHow Can You Join this Challenge?
Leave a comment below and let us know what your weight loss goal for February is.  Then, click here to join our DietBet for extra motivation.

Goal #1: Join our February DietBet for some serious motivation and incentive!  Compete with BWLW members in a 4-week weight loss challenge to lose 4% of your starting weight. In our January DietBet, the ladies have lost more than 1200 pounds combined and the pot is $9,205!  We want to make the Feb Challenge pot even bigger!
Everyone who wins splits the pot. Click here to join us and get all the details!  Feb 8th  is the Start Date. The initial weigh-in via photo takes place Feb 6th – 7th Pacific Standard Time.

dietbet2

Goal #2: We will commit to drinking more water on a daily basis.  We are committing to cutting out…

  • Regular and Diet Soda
  • Sugary Drinks
  • Store bought juice – Any juice from concentrate

Instead we will drink…

  • Water 70-80% of the time
  • Herbal Tea with Natural Sweeteners
  • Freshly made juice
  • Water infused with tea, mint, fruit, etc…
  • Fresh, homemade smoothies
gallonchallenge
We want you to show us your bottles!  Post your photos on social media with the Challenge hashtag #BWLWFeb

Our goal is to drink 64 ounces of water per day (over the course of the day) minimum.  64 ounces is the same as the old fashioned rule of eight 8 oz glasses of water a day.  If you are doing a lot of sweating and exercising and you are already drinking 64 oz per day you can go for working up to drinking a gallon (128 oz)  a day by the end of the month if you choose to.  You don’t have to drink a gallon of water…it’s up to you and your health needs.  A gallon is actually NOT a good idea for some people.

Medical Note: *Last time we did this challenge there were some that were concerned about medical issues or drinking too much water and I’ve posted some information below about that. If there is any reason why you should not increase your water intake due to kidney issues, edema, any ailment or a chronic illness, do not participate in this challenge.  When in doubt or if you have any questions speak with your doctor.

  • Drinking more water can help boost your metabolism for weight loss.
  • Drink water to stay hydrated.  Dehydration is dangerous for your health and saps your energy levels.
  • Your brain, tissues and organs rely on water to stay in good health.  Your muscles need water to stay toned.
  • Drinking more water can actually help relieve water retention.  It allows he body to stop trying to store water to combat dehydration.

How much water should I drink per day if I’m just starting out?

If you have always had an issue with drinking enough water or are drinking less than 24 oz per day, I suggest you start with 24 oz of water and work your way up to 64 oz.  This challenge is NOT about going overboard.  Just adding 24 ounces more of water a day can make a difference, especially when you are exercising.

A good rule is to take your body weight, cut it in half and then drink that number of oz as the minimum amount of water you need.

So if you are 200 pounds, you may want to shoot for 100 ounces of water a day as a goal for the end of the month.  Of course there are cases were you should drink more than the minimum of 64 oz, especially if you are workout hard, breast feeding, living in a warm climate, etc. You also want to figure in water from foods you eat and from healthy beverages.

I don’t suggest that you drink more than a full gallon of water per day (128 oz) unless you are already doing so, are an athlete or someone who is training hard and sweating a lot and you know what you’re doing.  A gallon can be too much for some people’s systems to handle. I’m really talking to people who are NOT drinking water regularly in this case.  Not everyone can go from say, 30 oz a day to 100oz.  Everyone is different and your goals have to be realistic.  Of course, I see people in the gym walking around with gallon jugs all the time and I’ve drank way more than 64oz before, especially in the summer while doing intense workouts in the heat.  There is nothing wrong with drinking a gallon a day if you are healthy enough to do so, but when you aren’t even drinking 64 oz a day right now, it’s ok to start out with a smaller goal.  (*See the info below about how drinking too much water can deprive the body of sodium)

Also, drinking too much water, too quickly, can swell brain cells and cause head pressure (more on this below).  You will need to spread out your water drinking over the course of the day.

Commit to stop drinking sugary drinks and drinks with artificial sweetener.  That means no soda, no store bought juice, no sweet tea, no crystal light, etc.  You can infuse your water with real fruit for flavor instead (cut up fruit and put it in the water bottle to steep like tea).  If you are going to drink any sweeteners, they should be natural and you should only drink them in moderation/small amounts (honey, stevia, agave nectar, etc).  You can also have freshly made juice, milk, unsweetened nut milk (almond, soy) and homemade smoothies.  You can also stay away from alcohol because of the extra sugar, extra carbs and how it affects the body (liver and kidneys).

water challenge oz

Tips:

  • Create a water drinking schedule.
  • Drink the most pure water you have access to.  Filtered water, spring water, distilled, etc.
  • Add fruit or herbs/spices (mint, lavender, cinnamon, ginger) to your water if you have a need for flavor.
  • Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t reach your daily goal.  Do your best each day and you will see progress over the course of the month.
  • Buy a BPA free water bottle.
  • Buy a water bottle with ounce markings on it so that you know how much you are drinking.
  • Mark how much water you want to drink by a certain time on your bottle or gallon to keep track of your water drinking.  A Sharpie is a great way to do this but you can get creative with stickers and other decorations.

*Water Intoxication – Can you drink TOO much water?

I know that some of you may be concerned about drinking too much water.  Here is some info to help you understand that water intoxication is possible but you would have to drink a LOT of water (far more than 64 oz over the course of a day).

“When you drink enough water to where the salts in your blood are severely diluted, you can experience a number of health concerns. The first symptoms may include headache, fatigue and feelings of nausea. As the levels of water in your body increase, you may vomit, urinate frequently and feel disoriented and confused — a condition known as water intoxication…  One of the reasons why it is possible to drink too much water is because your kidneys can only filter so much fluid at a time. If your kidneys are healthy, you can filter about 800 to 1,000 mL or 0.21 to 0.26 gallons of water, meaning you can drink about this much every hour and have your kidneys function normally… When considering how much water healthy kidneys can filter in a day, you can filter about 15 L — almost 60 glasses — of water each day,” – Read the full article from Livestrong.com

also

Rapid intake of too much water floods the inside of cells when sodium is depleted. This sodium depletion, called hyponatremia, can rupture the cells, either from extra pressure on the cells from without, or from pressure within flooded cells. As cells rupture in various parts of the body, certain symptoms emerge, and usually quickly.

What kind of symptoms? Well, things like vomiting, headaches, confusion and disorientation. If things progress this can lead to more serious things like seizures and coma. Untreated cases have resulted in death. (Like this recent case, or these other sad cases, for example). – Source

The point is that your kidneys can filter a LOT of water on a hourly basis, so you still have to space out your water drinking and drink a reasonable amount that works for you.

Tia lost 107 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Tia lost 107 pounds. This petite diva decided she was tired of not being able to find clothes she liked and wanted to avoid any weight-related illnesses.  She shared with us what it took to lose the weight and keep it off…

Tia before and after

My weight loss journey began in February 2012. I was 249 pounds on a 5’1″ tall, medium built body frame. I was uncomfortable and tired of not being able to find clothing suitable for me. I didn’t want to have to deal with any health issues that I could have related to being overweight. I was determined to lose it and get healthy. I signed up for Weight Watchers and I did the program for about five months. I got off track here and there. I did the fat burners and appetite suppressants as well. I do know that there are no magic pills, you have to put in your part even when taking supplements.

Fast Forward…when July came I had a talk with myself. I had to tell myself that if you truly want this change to take place then you have to make it happen. No excuses, no giving up! You have to stay focused on meeting your intended goals and that’s what I did. My first decision was to stop eating junk food which was my weakness and downfall. The next decision was to stop drinking alcohol for awhile. I was never a huge water drinker, but I made it my business to drink more each day. I also cut back on pasta, potatoes, rice and breads (white starches). I started doing moderate exercise 30-45 minutes a day, five days a week at home with various workout DVDs and Wii games.

I stayed consistent as I started to see the results and it pushed me to keep going. I started to challenge myself month after month. As time went by the journey became much easier for me. I was introduced to juicing in the Winter of 2012 and it soon became my favorite thing along this journey. It worked for me! I started seeing even more results. Weight loss, clear skin, and more energy. I stopped eating poultry and dairy products at the end of Summer 2013 (no red meat or pork in 14 yrs). I still eat seafood like salmon and shrimp. I try to avoid fried foods as much as I can, but when I do fry I use healthier oils like olive oil or coconut oil. I’ve lost over a hundred pounds, getting to 142 pounds. Now I like to inspire others to adapt a healthier lifestyle. I promote what I love and that’s healthy living. My motto is get motivated, stay focused and be inspired!

Tia weight loss